Who’s Excited About Lindsey Graham Flirting With a Presidential Run?

WASHINGTON — Sen. WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Sunday that he was considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, becoming the latest potential contender in an increasingly crowded field.“We’re not polling, but we set up a testing-the-waters committee under the IRS code that will allow me to look beyond South Carolina as to whether or not a guy like Lindsey Graham has a viable path,” Graham said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “I don’t know where this will go, but I am definitely going to look at it.” Graham, who was elected in November to a third Senate term, is known for his criticism of President Obama’s defense and foreign policies. Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, and Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, discussed their own prospects on the Sunday television talk shows.

A CBS News poll released Sunday that asked voters which candidates they wanted to see run did not list Graham, and the RealClearPolitics’ poll of polls for the prospective 2016 field is also absent of Graham. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a single survey that does include Graham in the mix, including a poll up at the Republican National Committee’s website. Graham is among roughly two dozen Republicans who have talked openly about their White House ambitions or have been mentioned as potential candidates. The South Carolina senator also revealed that he would be willing to end his push for further sanctions against Iran. “If he [President Obama] thinks sanctions is [sic] disruptive to a good outcome, I’m willing to forgo that vote with the understanding that any bill he negotiates will come to the Congress for our approval or disapproval as a check and balance.” But Graham also went on the offensive against President Obama, once again blaming the president’s policies for deaths in Syria. “I think his policies are getting people killed,” Graham said. “Almost 300,000 people have been killed in Syria on his watch … Letting people out of Gitmo in this environment, I think is irresponsible.

Some observers are scratching their head at the notion that Graham could enter the race. “In what possible universe does he think he’d mount a viable presidential candidacy, especially amid a crowded, talented field?” wrote Guy Benson at the conservative site Hot Air on Thursday. “If such a path exists, I just don’t see it.” As for McCain’s comments, Graham joked about their relationship. “The good news is, I guess I’m in John’s will and I can get part of the estate,” he said. Graham to run. “If I get through my general election, if nobody steps up in the presidential mix, if nobody’s out there talking — me and McCain have been talking — I may just jump in to get to make these arguments,” he said in an interview with The Weekly Standard.